Mat Batts can’t buy a win. The Sharks (11-15) starting pitcher came into the game Tuesday night with two tough-luck loses, and after looking like he would buck that trend against the Columbia Blowfish (8-17), the visitors scored twice in the eighth to steal a 3-2 win in CPL South Division action.

Batts’ final statline gave off an eight inning effort that allowed seven hits and three runs – only one of which was earned – and eight strikeouts.

Mat Batts was saddled with the tough-luck loss Tuesday night despite eight innings of work and eight strikeouts.

With the Sharks holding a one-run advantage in the top of the eighth, with Columbia’s Tyler Jackson on first with two outs when Carlos Santana singled to right field. Sharks right fielder Ricardo Lizcano’s throw to third was over the head of K.J. McAllister as Jackson scored to tie the game and Santana advanced to second.

Greg Harrison stepped in next and brought home Santana with a RBI single up the middle and the Sharks lead was gone.

In the Sharks’ final two at-bats, they put a runner on base in both innings, with the tying run stranded at third to end the eighth and they ended the game with the tying run on first.

Jake Mayers led the Sharks with a 2-for-3 night at the plate while driving in both Wilmington runs on the night. Justyn Carter, Alex Freedman, Eric Mayers and K.J. McAllister each tallied one hit for the remainder of the Sharks hits.

Selek finished 2-for-4, while Santana added a hit and two RBIs for the Blowfish.

The Sharks jumped ahead early in the bottom of the first when Carter walked before coming around to score later in the inning on a Mayers RBI single. In the fifth, the Wilmington lead improved to two after Carter reached via a hit by pitch before advancing around to third and scoring on another Mayers RBI single.

Columbia plated its first run in the top of the sixth when Jackson reached on an error by Batts and advanced to second when the throw sailed into right field. Another Sharks error moved Jackson to third base before he scored on Santana’s RBI groundout to cut the lead to 2-1 and set up the eighth inning.

The Sharks have little time to think about the loss, bouncing right back to host the Florence RedWolves with an 11 a.m. start time Wednesday afternoon. Wilmington turns around and travels to Florence Thursday night to end the 2011 First Half.

The Sharks return home Friday, July 1, when they host the Outer Banks Daredevils in a Firsty Friday with $1 beverage specials. Sunday, July 3, the Sharks host Florence with a postgame fireworks spectacular presented by Taco Bell.

In their fourth-straight game on the road, the Wilmington Sharks jumped out to an 8-0 lead on Monday night against Morehead City, only to see the Marlins tie the game in the eighth inning before the Sharks posted a five-run ninth for a 13-8 win in CPL South Division action.

When all was said and done, only two innings saw neither team score a run, as the Sharks and Marlins tallied 19 hits over the contest.

Alex Freedman's two-RBI single in the ninth proved to be the eventual game-winner Monday night.

The Sharks opened the game with two runs in the first with Justyn Carter and Ricardo Lizcano leading off the game wit hback-to-back walks before Carter scored when Jake Mayers reached on a fielders’ choice and Lizcano scampered home on a Morehead City wild pitch.

Lizcano was in the middle of the scoring again in the second inning, with his two-RBI triple cleared the bases and scored Carter and Casey Allison. The visitors scored two runs for the third consecutive inning in the third inning when Morehead City walked the bases loaded before Jake Mayers scored on a passed ball and Kenny Bryant also scored later in the inning when he scampered home to give the Sharks a 6-0 lead after three innings.

In the fifth inning, Eric Mayers drove home two RBIs that scored Bryant and Evan Campbell as Wilmington looked to have blown the game open.

Morehead City proved not to go easily into the night, plating three runs in the bottom of the fifth to get on the scoreboard on three hits before adding three more hits and three additional runs in the seventh to close the gap to an 8-6 Sharks lead.

An inning later, the Marlins completed their comeback with two runs in the bottom of the eighth off of three hits as the teams went to the final frame tied at 8-all.

But in the ninth the Sharks decided the Marlins’ surge would not end with a home win, as Wilmington exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth with Alex Freedman’s bases-loaded, two-RBI double plating the eventual winning runs for the Sharks.

Allison picked up two RBIs two batters later when he drove home Freedman and Campbell before Carter’s RBI single plated Eric Mayers for the game’s final run.

Morehead City went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth as Sharks reliever Ross Whitley picked up his fourth win of the season out of the bullpen after pitching the final 1-2/3 innings with three strikeouts.

Zach Taylor was tabbed with the start for the Sharks, but did not factor into the decision despite exiting the game after six innings with a 6-3 lead after delivering a four-hit, three-run performance while striking out five Morehead City batters.

Freedman was the only Shark to tally a two-hit night despite every Wilmington hitter except Bryant recording a hit in the win. Bryant did finish his night with three walks as he scored three times.

Lizcano, Freedman, Eric Mayers and Allison each had two RBIs in the win for the Sharks, while Carter and Campbell each scored twice.

The Sharks now return home for two straight home games, beginning Tuesday night against Columbia at 7:05 on Time Warner Cable Two ‘fer Tuesday with two-for-one admission and food and $2 beverages. Wednesday the Sharks host Florence with a special 11 a.m. start time for the Big Splash at the Tank.

This week features a full plate of action for the Sharks, both on and off the field, culminating with fireworks after the Sunday, July 3 game.

The Sharks return home to the Shark Tank on Tuesday night, June 28, when they host the Columbia Blowfish with a 7:05 start time with gates opening at 6. Every Tuesday game this season is a Time Warner Cable/Z107.5 Two ‘fer Tuesday with 2-for-1 admission and hotdogs, as well as $2 beverages that also feature Fat Tire Fat Tuesday Specials. Skip the lines and head over to wilmingtontickets.com to buy and print your tickets for each and every Sharks home game this season.

Wednesday the Sharks entertain the Florence RedWolves on the field while Sharky hosts his annual ‘Big Splash at the Tank’ for all children as the Shark Tank transforms into a water park for the game. This means an extra special start time of 11 a.m., so get up and head out to the Shark Tanks for some wet and wild action.  Gates open at 10 a.m., so come out and enjoy the water park and fun with the Big Splash at the Tank.

Following Wednesday’s day game, Sharks players and coaches will be guest bartending at both Fat Tony’s locations - Downtown Wilmington at 131 N Front Street and 250 Racine Drive near UNCW - from 6-9 p.m.

Head coach Chris Youngberg will be at the location, while assistant coach Derek Borrows will be at the other location. Both locations will also feature a Sharks player as well.

The Sharks return home to play inside the Shark Tank on Friday, July 1, when they host the Outer Banks Daredevils. With this week the only time the Sharks do not host a Thirsty Thursday contest, the specials will be pushed to Friday’s game against the Daredevils and coincide with the beginning of the month, where the Sharks host Firsty Friday presented by Yuengling with $1 drink specials.

The week caps off on Sunday, July 3, when the Sharks take on the Florence RedWolves at 7:05, with Taco Bell post-game fireworks following the game. The Sharks invite you to come out to the area’s only fireworks show on July 3.

Skip the lines and head over to wilmingtontickets.com to buy and print your tickets for each and every Sharks home game this season.

See you this week at the Shark Tank!